Jamie Carragher has delivered a scathing assessment of Florian Wirtz followed another disappointing display from the Liverpool playmaker
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher during a Premier League match
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher showed no mercy in his criticism of Liverpool's Florian Wirtz(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher went all in on his criticism of Florian Wirtz and called for the playmaker to be dropped.
The Reds fell to a bitterly disappointing defeat against Manchester City at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. However, the odds were arguably stacked against them even before kickoff in light of recent injuries to Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
With so many key players sidelined, it was understandably down to the rest of the Liverpool squad to step up. Apart from a goal, Andoni Iraola 's men appeared to be doing just that before Ryan Gravenberch was controversially sent off for a second yellow card, and City went on to cruise to a 3-0 triumph.
Aside from refereeing decisions, Liverpool's lack of a clinical edge in front of goal was equally costly. Wirtz was among the players tasked with stepping up, but the 23-year-old failed to produce any moments of quality, and he was once again singled out for criticism by pundits, most notably Carragher.
The former Reds defender was highly critical of Wirtz after the narrow win over Bournemouth before the international break. As the Germany international's struggles in the Premier League continued this weekend, Carragher called for him to be dropped from the starting lineup.
"I was critical of him at Bournemouth," Carragher began, speaking in his post-match analysis on Sky Sports. "I was critized by Liverpool fans but I thought going away with Germany, Jurgen Klopp could get the best out of him.
"He did well in the international break and he has come here today, with no Isak or Gakpo, and Liverpool needs Wirtz and Barcola to step up, to help Munoz and Koumas. But they were better than the two £100m players.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool runs with the ball under pressure from Rayan Cherki of Manchester City during the Premier League match
Florian Wirtz has endured a difficult start to life at Liverpool(Image: Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
"What Florian Wirtz is giving Liverpool right now is not enough. He has played 55-60 games for Liverpool. He should not be in the Liverpool team right now. Players have ups and downs but there has been no up.
"Barcola hasn't been amazing and you want to see more but he is still getting used to the club and the Premier League. It would be harsh to judge him right now. If you think of the other big teams, Cherki, Bruno Fernandes, Palmer, and Odegaard - they score or assist every game, or look close to doing that. Wirtz never looks like scoring.
"There was absolutely nothing from him. He looks really small. When he is taking set pieces, it is like he doesn't have the strength to put it in the middle or to the back post."
Given the injuries, including to Szoboszlai, Wirtz will likely be called upon once again in the Champions League midweek, much to Carragher's frustration. An away trip to Austrian side LASK could provide an opportunity to build some momentum before next week's visit to Brentford.